Prepping for My Trip to Portugal
by Jen Labbett.
The summer is officially upon us, even here in dreary old England, where we have suffered through yet another elongated winter only to be granted the “wettest summer in history” as something to somehow look forward to in 2024. And that is why any wise person, I may or may not be included in this group, will have had no trouble picturing themselves in the sun yet not in England sometime mid-winter and booked a holiday accordingly.
And that’s just what I did. Now my reasons were twofold – I was dying to see one of my all-time favourite bands and they happened to be headlining a festival in Lisbon, which made deciding where to book pretty easy, but now I’m confronted with the added headache of packing for a holiday slash festival, which I can’t say I’ve ever done before. Given this year’s trend toward oversized picnic-esque handbags and pops of bright colour, I may forgo my original take on the “wicker” look to favour more functionality and more storage as we are travelling to parts unknown, in a country I know not a lick of the language and my husband is no help when it comes to these matters (speaking another language or picking out a handbag).
Now I’ve packed all manner of flip flop and brightly coloured t-shirt to soak in the Portuguese heat and I was pleasantly surprised when I came across a few pieces during my preliminary holiday shopping spree. The first bag that fit the bill for me was the natural straw Beauty Spot Suzy Tote travel bag that really combines both elements of this year’s trends with its colourful art deco exterior and the sheer brazenness of the shade of red fabric that covers the interior of the bag, I think this handbag is festival perfect. With comfortable shoulder handles and a drawstring closure feature that really appeals to me in terms of keeping my things safe in a crowd of thousands, this Lulu Guinness design goes above and beyond in terms of style and function.
Lulu Guinness
Beauty Spot Suzy Tote bag
Another bag that caught my eye, for the sheer look and vanity of it, certainly not because it’s practical for a festival, but the Mini Valentino Garavani Escape Bucket Bag in canvas with chevron24 print & embroidery is definitely giving off the right vibes for music, sunshine & dancing. Again, with the drawstring closure for keeping your personal items safe, this bucket bag is equipped with a removable shoulder strap and handle, but can also be worn as a crossbody/shoulder accessory or carried as a handbag depending on your mood.
Valentino Garavani
Escape Mini Bucket Bag
And speaking of moods, if I wanted to go full force with the flower child/hippy chic look, I couldn’t accessorise any better than going with the Jacksons Large Day Dreamer Tote Bag in green. All the fuss, none of the muss, this extremely practical tote is speaking my language and it’s designed to be light and airy as you carry your festival essentials around from stage to stage. Not only that but the story behind the brand really speaks to me as for more than twelve years, brand founder Louise and her team have worked with 1,400 women in Bangladesh to produce its sensational collection of handmade totes. The craftsmanship of each bag ensures that twelve women are fed so that their wonderful journey of empowerment with the brand can continue to thrive. This is an investment piece that won’t break the bank (coming in under £90) and allows you to do a good turn while carrying a really stylish and useful piece with you on your adventures.
Jacksons
Large Day Dreamer Tote Bag
As I was doing my research, going from the sublime to the ridiculous in festival gear, I came across a backpack that I really feel might be the ultimate festival win for those of us looking to be stylish and get functionality out of our gear as well. Let me introduce you to the Hackney 2.0 Large backpack from Kind Bag. This fantastic rucksack comes in a variety of different colours, from my favourite Lavender to Yellow Tuscan Sun to Burnt Orange, this bag is full of useful pockets and storage that is bound to make your festival experience that much more organised and accessible. More than that, this Kind Bag is made from 100% recycled and recyclable water-resistant fabric, but it’s ethical credentials go way further than just being recycled, this backpack is actually made from 18 recycled plastic water bottles, which really impressed me. This is the newest version of the bag, and it has roll-top closure with a zip and extra-strong magnets ensuring secure and easy access to your belongings. With long side pockets designed to hold your water bottle and extra padding for back support, this backpack is perfect for daily commutes, travel, or outdoor adventures. At £65, I don’t think I could ask for a more eco-friendly and stylish solution to my prepping-for-Portugal needs.
Kind Bag
Hackney 2.0 Large Backpack
I really love that designers are building practicality into the design functions of their pieces and while I’ve yet to make a personal decision on which bag to bring along, I can’t decide if I’ve made prepping for this trip easier with all the choice that’s out there or I’ve made what has already been a very indecisive trip (is it a holiday? Is it a festival?) that much more difficult to pin down?
Bags of Note
DSQUARED2
Icon Clubbing Tote Bag
Kurt Geiger
Floral Couture Gardening Bag
